Bereavement and mental health factors associated with seeking and receiving support following loss among Canadian bereaved adults

Purpose: The death of a loved one is one of life’s most ubiquitous events that can increase risk of mental health difficulties. Bereavement support is one of the few factors influencing grief-related mental health outcomes that can be modified after bereavement. This study sought to determine the proportion of bereaved people that want and receive support from different sources following a bereavement, and the bereavement and mental health-related factors associated with wanting and receiving bereavement support. 

Methods: Data was derived from a cross-sectional survey of bereaved adults (n = 1170) living in Ontario, Canada. 

Results: Over a third of the sample (38.9%; n = 455) reported wanting support in coping with their loss. These individuals exhibited distinct loss-related characteristics and reported higher levels of anxiety, depression, and prolonged grief symptoms. Most of these individuals received support and a small number of participants who didn’t want support received it regardless. The most common sources of support were family members, friends, and other bereaved individuals, and these sources were generally found to be helpful. Those who accessed multiple types of support were those with the highest levels of anxiety, depression, and prolonged grief symptoms. 

Conclusion: Most individuals wanting support after a loss can access it and find it beneficial. The desire for support is closely tied to psychological distress, highlighting the need to prioritize formal support for those in distress and rely on existing social networks for those who are not. Such an approach embodies an ‘assets-based’ bereavement model, enhancing community capacity for effective support provision.